SLVUSD Charter News
Vol 2.10 - Jan 21, 2025
From Principal Kerry le Roux
Hello Charter families!
If you or any family members are current cleared volunteers for the Charter/District, please consider participating in the WISE project, a community action project spearheaded by 8th grade Nature Academy student Calla Turk, and supported by Kat Gafford and the Valley Women's Club. Elders are paired up with young people interested in being "penpals" and letters are exchanged to the benefit of all. Students learn letter writing etiquette and connect with an older generation, and elders find common ground with the. youth. Please share this worthy cause with volunteers you know, and anyone interested in participating can contact Kerry (kleroux@slvusd.org) or Kat for details (misstrinam@gmail.com).
Click here for a wonderful update about what your students were working on in November and December in the Charter gardens from Master Gardener Melanie Burgess.
Charter Info Nights are coming soon! Please calendar these and spread the word to neighbors and friends looking for a unique and individualized approach to education for their child/children!
TK-8 homeschool programs: Thurs, Feb 6 at 5:30pm in the Charter MPR
Nature Academy: Thurs, Feb 13 at 5:30pm in the Charter MPR
Coast Redwood High School: Tues, March 4 at 5:30pm at Coast Redwood High
(We will be running lottery placements for Nature Academy and QHIA.)
Fashion Teens!
Amber Walker will be having a follow-up meeting for Fashion Teens in Rm. 16 (the QHIA classroom) at 12:05 on Thursday, Jan. 23
Info from Amber below:
"We had a great turnout prior to Winter Break. Please click on this link for info: https://www.fashionteens-santacruz.com/
I have been meeting monthly with the county team, and this event is always amazing-at the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz in April.
It is not too late to register. The deadline is Jan. 31.
The Application is the first tab on the top of the website's opening page. (Use my name when it asks for "Art Teacher" in various places on the application: Amber Walker) We will go through the application at our meeting as well. All students in SC County are invited to create and display wearable art, with a focus on Social Action, Upcycling, and Recycling!
In February, we will begin meeting more often; up to twice a month, during lunch and after school, to help bring your creations to life! You can also create entirely at home, checking in with me along the way with photos, videos, etc. We already have a few students registered
Please email me if you have any questions, and I hope to see you at the meeting.
~Amber
Click here if you're interested in accessing supports available through the SC County Schools Integrated Behavioral Health Initiative.
There are two speech contests in February 2025 – one by Rotary District 5170 & one by Lions Multiple District 4.
For 9th - 12th graders:
Date: Tue 2/4
Time: 7pm
Location: 2259 7th Ave, Santa Cruz
Length: 5 to 10 minutes
Sponsored by: Santa Cruz Lions
Free coaching: Saturday, 1/18, 2-5pm, Aptos Library Community Room (see signup)
For 6th - 12th graders:
Date: Thu 2/13
Time: 8am
Location: SLV HS MPR
Theme: Service above self (see rules for more details)
Duration: 4 to 5 minutes
Sponsored by: SLV Rotary
Signup TBA
Our Charter TK-8 STEAM Expo. is on Friday, Feb. 28th. (It's a Nature Academy minimum day.)
The cut-off day for registration is Jan. 31st.
Please encourage your student to sign up as soon as possible. We’ll be ordering boards for participants on Jan 31st and will notify you once they’re available.
Below is a link with more detailed information.
2025 TK-8 Charter STEAM Expo (Science Fair) Packet
If your teen plans to work whilst attending high school, we fully support this responsible decision! Students in good standing with grades and attendance are eligible to request a Work Permit. Please note that the employer first needs to give the student a completed application for a work permit, which needs to be turned in to Kerry at the Charter office. After that we have a 24-48 hour turn around time to issue the permit. The student needs to pick up the permit in person as it requires a signature.
Please read further for some important Charter updates and announcements. Remember to click here to add our Website Calendar to your google calendars to see all Charter events! Your child's teacher will have shared their specific program calendar as well.
Have a wonderful week!
Kerry
T. 831-335-0932
Parent Math Trainings - hope to see you Thursday!
Starting Thursday, Jan 23 we are shifting the times for our Monthly Parent Math Trainings to see if we can attract more parents to this very helpful and useful training with Mariana Allred of the Silicon Valley Math Initiative.
Please sign up here for one or more of the sessions if you are a parent of a student in TK - 9th grade! All program parents welcome! We meet in room 12 (green portable in the lower parking lot behind the D.O.)
Times for January 23 and following dates:
9:30-10:30 - 6-9th grade parents
10:40-11:30 2-5th grade parents
11:40-12:30 TK-1st grade parents
Remaining dates for 204-25:
Feb 6
March 20
April 17
May 8
(Mariana trains teachers across Santa Clara County and is helping our parents come to grips with how to develop mathematical thinking and number sense in their students. It's specifically aimed at homeschool parents, but any parent with a student in TK-9 is welcome to attend.
Please click here for the slides from the previous trainings.)
Seed Library available!
The SLV Charter Seed Library has been fully restocked with seeds that students have grown, collected, and packaged this past Fall!
We added over 400 seed packets of snapdragon, lunaria, yarrow, zinnia, strawflower, juncus, nigella, anasazi beans, lupine, shasta daisy, calendula, bachelor buttons, rainbow carrots, lambs ear, hollyhock, white sage, and sun flowers. There are tons of vegetable seeds available too. Our seed library is completely free so please go checkout, collect, and contribute!
Our seed library is located in the school library.
Open Tues - Thurs 8am - 3pm.
8th Grade parents please note: SLVHS 8th Grade Parent Information Night
Date: Thurs, Feb 6
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm in the SLVHS Multipurpose Room
SLV High School will be hosting 8th Grade families for an informational night about moving up to SLVHS next year.
This will be held in the High School Multi-purpose Room. High school administration, counselors, and staff will be presenting information and answering questions about everything SLVHS.
(The HS academic counselors will also soon be coming to Charter talk to 8th graders about next year's course requests for SLVHS.)
Charter 8th graders planning to attend Coast Redwood High, Info Night will be 5:30pm on Tues, March 4th
Upcoming events and important dates
You will find all these events and more on the google calendar shared by your Program teacher and on the Website calendar.
Wed, Jan 22 - GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch
-Charter Play rehearsals at 3pm at the SLV Performing Arts Center
Thurs, Jan 23 - Student Council meets at 8am in the Library
- SVMI Parent Math Trainings in room 12
9:30am (6th - 9th grade parents)
10:40am (2nd - 5th grade parents)
11:40am (TK - 1st grade parents)
- TB verification for prospective volunteers 12:30 - 3:30pm in the District Board room
-Charter Play rehearsals at 3pm at the SLV Performing Arts Center
Sat, Jan 25 - County Spelling Bee Competition at UCSC
Elementary participants: Brighton Reynolds and Autumn Roberts
Junior participants: Kheiron Guin and Lovina Wildermuth-Reyes
Mon, Jan 27 - All-Charter Play Tech Rehearsal - 2pm at the PAC
Tues, Jan 28 - TB verification for prospective volunteers 8:00 - 11:00am in the district Board room
-All-Charter Play Tech Rehearsal - 2pm at the PAC
Wed, Jan 29 - GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch
-All-Charter Play Tech Rehearsal - 2:30pm at the PAC
Thurs, Jan 30 - Student Council meets at 8am in the Library
All-Charter Play Performances at 10:30am and 7pm - PAC
Fri, Jan 31 - Deadline for students registering for Charter STEAM Expo
- All-Charter Play Performance at 10:30am and 7pm - PAC
Sat, Feb 1 - All-Charter Play Performance at 7pm - PAC
Sun, Feb 2 - All-Charter Play Performance at 2pm (matinee) - PAC
For planning further ahead:
Thurs, Feb 6 - SVMI Parent Math Trainings
- TK-8 Homeschool Programs Info Night 5:30pm
Thurs, Feb 13 - Nature Academy Info Night 5:30pm
Mon Feb 17 - Fri Feb 21 - February Break - NO SCHOOL
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Nature Academy parents, don't forget to check the Nature Academy Google Calendar to be sure which bell schedule we're on each day! (You can also click here if you are not a Google Calendar subscriber)
- A1 Mondays are 1:19pm dismissal at Nature Academy
- A2 Mondays are 2:05pm dismissal at Nature Academy
- A3 Mondays are 3:00pm dismissal at the tricampus
- O days are Tues/Thurs, dismissal 2:05pm;
- E days are Wed/Fri, dismissal 2:20pm (Wed) and 2:05 (Fri);
- Minimum Days dismiss at 12:05;
- Excursion Days (dates not all finalized) - times are individual to the excursion, but typically 3pm dismissal
Emergency/School Safety update
From Superintendent Chris Schiermeyer: "Providing a safe place for students to learn and grow is one of the most important responsibilities of our school system. All San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District schools have a School Safety Plan in place. Drill procedures for emergencies and disasters are regularly practiced at each school.
Starting the 2024-2025 school year, we have changed our countywide codes for emergency drills in collaboration with law enforcement and the fire departments. Our new codes are as follows: Evacuation, Reverse Evacuation, Hall Check, and Lockdown. Please see the Standard Command Emergency Response Poster for more details on these types of drills that will be practiced at our school sites as required by law.
Along with school staff, your family plays a critical role in preventing and responding to school emergencies. The information posted on the Emergency Information website page is intended to provide parents/guardians with the steps you can take “before”, “during”, and “after” an emergency. Please note the emergency information has been revised to be in alignment with the newly adopted codes. Please take a moment to review this information."
SLV Charter will be starting our monthly/quarterly evacuation drills (elementary/secondary) shortly. Please be sure to sign in to get a visitor sticker if you're coming on campus so that if you're on site for a drill we can account for you. Please contact me if you have any questions!
Touch, Type, Read & Spell
3rd through 9th grade parents, please continue to encourage daily keyboarding practice with Touch Type Read Spell, the "award winning multi-sensory course that teaches typing, reading and spelling" aimed at students from elementary to high school. We are now requiring all students to spend a minimum of 1 hour a week or longer. This program license lasts until May of 2025, and after completion of all 24 levels* (approx. one year), your child should show a substantial improvement in keyboarding fluency. 24 levels over one year equates to 15 modules per week. If you did not receive your welcome email with login details, please contact your child's teacher or email me!
"Based on the average completion time, a student using TTRS for one hour per week should complete approximately 744 modules in a year. The main TTRS Course consists of 24 levels, with 31 modules in each level, totaling 744 modules. On average, students complete the entire course in about 12 months when dedicating one hour per week to the program.
It's important to note that individual progress may vary, and some learners might complete the course faster if they spend more than an hour per week on TTRS."
Sign up for Parent Math trainings - series of 9 lessons
Parents of students in TK - 9th grade! Have you struggled when helping your child with Math? We are once again offering a once-monthly Thursday morning Math training for parents, presented by an awesome instructor from the Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI). Please sign up here for one or all of the sessions on offer - they will build on one another over the course of the year. (Note there is a new tab for 2nd semester at the bottom of the spreadsheet.)
TK-1 parents come from 9:30 - 10:20am
2 - 5 parents come from 10:30 - 11:20am
6 - 9 parents come from 11:30 - 12:30pm
Dates: Thursday Sept 26, Oct 24, Nov 21, Dec 10 (Tues), Jan 23, Feb 6, Mar 20, Apr 17, May 8
Chromebook Loaner update
Parents can now sign out loaner Chromebooks through the library for their students to use at home, starting tomorrow, Tues 8/20 and every Tues-Thurs according to the times below:
Charter Library
Tues, Wed, Thurs
8:30-9:30am or 2:15-3pm
Students can’t sign out a Chromebook without a parent; it requires a parent's signature. If there’s a problem, parents can email Mabel at CHlibrary@slvusd.org to make arrangements.
Students should not be bringing a personal laptop to school unless it’s part of an IEP. All teachers have class sets of chromebooks for students to use if it's required as part of the lesson.
Schoology
If your child is in 6 - 12th grade, your teacher most likely uses Schoology to record assignment and test scores.
How a parent logs into Schoology:
- Get your parent access code from your teacher or administrator.
- When you have your parent access code, go to app.schoology.com/register.php.
- Click the “Parent” button below the “Instructor” and “Student” buttons” in the “Sign Up for Schoology” section.
- Enter the access code you received, and click Continue.
- Enter your name and email (not the student’s) and choose a password.
Refer to the Parent Schoology Handbook to learn more.
Attendance
Attendance matters!
Our attendance rate improved last year - thank you for your ongoing partnership in supporting good attendance! Students need to participate consistently, whether it be in a homeschool program, where work completion counts as attendance, or in our classroom-based 5 day a week Nature Academy.
Students who are absent 10% or more in a school year are typically "less proficient in reading, writing and math than their peers with good attendance" (Source: CA Dept of Ed.)
Parent Volunteers/Chaperones
Volunteer application hours - PLEASE NOTE: The Charter Office and SLVUSD Human Resources Office hours will process volunteer registrations at the following times:
Tuesdays from 7:00-11:00 am
Thursdays from 12:30-3:30 pm.
The Human Resources Office is located at 325 Marion Avenue, Ben Lomond, CA 95005.
All Charter parents are encouraged to register with the District as a volunteer and a field trip driver. (All parents are asked to drive on excursions...)
Please click here to access the required volunteer paperwork. Hard copy paperwork is also available at the Charter Office.
To use your personal vehicle to transport your own or other students, we will need updated driver information on file as well - please click here for the form.
Ø New Volunteer: You will be required to fill out the volunteer paperwork and obtain a signature from the principal. Once complete, please bring your signed paperwork to the Human Resources Office. You will be required to provide a current TB result. Also, all new volunteers will be required to be fingerprinted.
Ø Returning Volunteer: You will be required to provide current TB results (within the last 4 years). If you don't know whether your TB is current, check with the Charter office. If you are turning in updated TB info, you can bring it to the Charter office or directly to the Human Resources Office.
Student Nutrition Information (Breakfast and Lunch)
- All SLVUSD students are eligible to receive a free breakfast and lunch through the cafeteria. Breakfast can be picked up any time from 8:15am - 8:45am, no order needed.
- Lunch no longer needs to be ordered online. Our lunch lady will bring enough hot lunches for everyone who wants one, but should these run out we will have healthy cold alternatives available (salads, sandwiches, etc.)
- Meals are be served from our Multi-use Room in the central area of the campus
- Lunch times vary per program, but generally happen in the 11:50 - 12:30 window
- Elementary students will have lunch cards (kept in the MPR).
- Secondary students will need to key in their student ID on a keypad
IMPORTANT: Please complete the Free/Reduced Lunch Application at https://family.titank12.com/
Although a meal application is not necessary for your child to receive free meals during the 2024-2025 school year, households are asked to complete a meal application to ensure that your school receives accurate funding. As well, your child’s eligibility for free or reduced lunch could qualify you for additional outside services or benefits including Free/Reduced Bus passes, student fee waivers, P-EBT, discounted utilities, and more.
- Link to SLV Student Nutrition Services website
Transportation Information
If your child takes the bus to or from school, please remember you will need to purchase a bus pass.
ALL Nature Academy students have to be registered to take bus transportation on A1 days to the tricampus. (No need to pay.) Registration form link.
Students at Coast Redwood High who need afternoon transportation to the tricampus for concurrent enrollment classes can take the TK bus that leaves the District Office at noon each day. They will not need to pay for a bus pass. However, they still need to register. Rides will be denied if students are not registered.)
Please click here to access the Transportation web page for any other information you need.
The Charter Office staff ask families to call in before 1:50pm if they have a message for their student about changing that day's bus transportation arrangement.
If you’re interested in following our Instagram account, showcasing news and events from SLVUSD Charter School, here is the info:
“I'm on Instagram as slvcharterschool. Install the app to follow my photos and videos, or click this link: https://instagram.com/slvcharterschool?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==
(Please know that we will be very careful not to post pictures of students on the "Do not Photograph" list.)
And if you haven't started following the District Instagram accoount, look for "slvusd" and click "Follow!"
Athletics Information
Charter students are eligible to try out to play in all sports at SLVMS and SLVHS. Please keep an eye on the respective websites so your child is aware of the tryout schedule for each season's sports. We will also share that information as we receive it.
Athletes, remember that eligibility rules require you to carry at least a 2.0 GPA (C average) to remain eligible to complete in the middle school athletics practices and competitions.
Parents, please read this updated Spectator Code of Conduct from SLVMS Principal Shanna Urbancic.
Please click here for a link to the Panther Athletics website (SLVMS)
Click here for a list of the tryout dates for 24-25
Fall Sports (August - October)
Boys Soccer
Girls Basketball
Cross Country (No cuts)
Winter I Sports (October - December)
Girls Soccer
Boys Basketball
Winter II Sports (January-March)
Girls Volleyball
Wrestling (no cuts)
Flag Football
Spring Sports (March- May)
Girls Softball
Boys Volleyball
Golf
Track and Field (no cuts)
Please click here for a link to the Cougar Athletics website (SLVHS).
Did you know that our district maintains a "Community Opportunities" website? This is for parents / students to receive information about current local events and opportunities for adults and/or children.
Note: The San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District does not sponsor or endorse any of the organizations or events that are located here. They are non-school sponsored events and are not being promoted by the school district. All postings are provided as a courtesy to the parents/students.
Homework Help at the Public Library
Bring your assignments to one of the FREE drop-in Homework Help sessions at one of the following public libraries.
Tuesdays from 3:00p to 5:00p.
Downtown, 224 Church St., Santa Cruz
Felton, 6121 Gushee St.
Capitola, 2005 Wharf Rd.
La Selva Beach, 316 Estrella Ave.
Open to all students up to grade 12.
Call 831.427.7713 for more information.
And also from the Santa Cruz Public Libraries:
SCPL are particularly excited to offer a new resource from Brainfuse called CollegeNow, which offers support with college applications, essays and more. This is in addition to HelpNow live tutoring.
Please click here for a press release containing comprehensive information on the many resources SCPL offers to all students. SCPL looks forward to welcoming your students to any of their 10 branches, Annex and Bookmobile during this new school year!
Guide to Resources for Families in SLV
Here's a handy one-pager listing various organizations and resources for families in the San Lorenzo Valley.
Mental Health resources
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - with a link to their March newseltter
Brightlife Kids, an organization that provides free online support in behavioral coaching for parents, caregivers and students aged 0 - 12.
Please click here for a link to a flier from the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz, containing a number of useful resources for families. CAB's mission is to "partner with the community to eliminate poverty and create social change through advocacy and social service. "
Triple P
Triple P/First Five of Santa Cruz County offer ongoing parenting classes for parents of students of all ages. Please click here to see their workshop offerings.
Triple P also offers 1:1 sessions for parents who are needing intensive 10 week session and add-on sessions for people who are divorcing or separating (Family Transitions), for couples wanting to work on their relationship (Enhanced) and for people wanting to work on their strong emotions, like anger (Pathways). If interested in 1:1 sessions, please contact First 5 of Santa Cruz: https://www.first5scc.org/contact
